Farmer suicides drop drastically: Govt

New Delhi: Suicide by farmers for reasons
related to agrarian issues have dropped drastically in the
current year due to government initiatives, Parliament was
told on Friday.
A total of 242 suicide by farmers due to agrarian reasons
have been reported by different states so far in 2011,
Minister of State for Agriculture Harish Rawat said in a
written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

During 2010, 657 farmers had taken their lives on this
count, while in 2004 the toll was as high as 1,805, the
minister added.

Rawat said the drop in casualty has been reported from
all the key agri states including Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Karnataka and Kerala which had witnessed large numbers of such
tragic incidents in the past.

Andhra Pradesh has reported 42 farmers suicide in 2011 in
comparison to 1,181 in 2004 and 152 in 2010.

Similarly, Maharashtra saw 123 suicides due to agrarian
cause in 2011, as against 347 in 2004 and 454 last year. While
in Karnataka there were 77 such incidents in 2011 vis-a-vis
114 in 2004 and 138 in 2010, the minister said quoting figures
received from state governments.
Kerala, which had witnessed 163 farmers suicides in 2004,
has not reported any such event this year as well last year.

Rawat attributed drastic fall in the incidents to
initiatives taken by the government.

He said the Central government implemented Rehabilitation
package announced in 2006, initially for 3 years, covering 11
districts of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra
to address problem of agrarian districts.

An amount of Rs 19,910.70 crore has been released under
this package till June 30 this year, he said adding the period
of implementation of non-credit components of the package was
extended up to September 30.

Among others, the government implemented agricultural
debt waiver and debt relief scheme (ADWDRS), 2008 benefitting
about 3.69 crore farmers in the country involving Rs 65,318.33
crore, the minister added.